Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti will make various changes to his usual starting line up when … [+] the defending Spanish, European and world champions takes on Deportivo Minera in the Copa del Rey on Monday.
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Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti will make various changes to his usual starting line up when the defending Spanish, European and world champions takes on Deportivo Minera in the Copa del Rey on Monday.
The fixture is the first of two cup ties Los Blancos must navigate this week, with a Spanish Super Cup semi final showdown against RCD Mallorca also on the horizon in three days’ time.
At his prematch press conference on Sunday, Ancelotti was asked if his controversial winger Vinicius Jr. – sent off at Valencia – would play against Deportivo Minera.
And while he didn’t give a yes or no on that, the Italian named two players that haven’t made the trip.
“Those who won’t travel are [Thibaut] Courtois and [Antonio] Rudiger, who stay here. The rest all go. I want to give minutes to others who have played a little less, but we are convinced that it was not a red [card], it was yellow. We hope that he doesn’t miss games,” Ancelotti said about a potential suspension for the Ballon d’Or runner up.
“Tomorrow [Andriy] Lunin is going to play because Courtois needs to rest and recover well. It is not defined that Lunin will play only in the Copa del Rey,” Ancelotti also said, with regards to choosing a “cup keeper”.
Ancelotti insisted that Madrid, which is not always deemed to take the Spanish domestic cup seriously, enters the Copa del Rey “with the same enthusiasm as always because it is an important competition that has given us happiness in recent years”.
“We are going to respect the opponent, the shirt and the competition. We will try to get the best out of it and get through the tie.
Though he has been a staunch critic of soccer’s overloaded calendar, Ancelotti only sees a “problem” with the Copa del Rey when his team isn’t in it “because Madrid tries to fight in all competitions”.
“Two years ago it went very well for us, playing the final of this competition is very nice and the goal is to reach the final, as always,” he stated.
As for the line up then, Lunin indeed starts in goal while Rudiger is dropped to pave the way for Raul Asencio.
The academy product partners Diego Aguado, which means that alongside Lorenzo at riht back, two youngsters get their senior debut while Fran Garcia is on the other flank.
Eduardo Camavinga is the lone pivot with Fede Valverde and Luka Modric in front of him in midfield.
On the attacking line, Endrick is afforded a rare start as the central number 9 flanked by left winger Brahim Diaz and right back Arda Guler.
